Compositions and method for repelling birds in crop plants

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods that are useful for repelling birds from crop plants, more particularly repelling birds from feeding on crop plant propagation material, e.g. seeds.

Description

COMPOSITIONS AND METHOD FOR REPELLING BIRDS IN CROP PLANTSFIELD

[0001] Provided herein are compositions and methods that are useful for repelling birds from crop plants, more particularly repelling birds from feeding on crop plant propagation material, e.g. seeds.BACKGROUND

[0002] Since agriculture has started to sow and grow crops, it had to face with many pests or diseases affecting the planted crop, and therefore the yield. One of the most familiar pests against which growers have since long tried to find solutions is birds. The main problem encountered by growers with birds is that they find the seeds that are freshly sown in the field, but also the growing plantlets or the seeds on matured crops, as a very attractive and easy source of food to feed on.

[0003] Among the largely used solutions tried by growers and gardeners to frighten birds are scarecrows. It is however unfortunately well known that such solutions only have a limited efficacy, especially because of the well-developed cognitive capacities of birds, which learn relatively rapidly that scarecrows are not so scary, irrespective of the creativity of their crafters.

[0004] Among the other solutions which have been tried since a few decades are repellent solutions applied on the seeds before, or at the time of, sowing. Many chemicals have been tested, of which some have shown some efficacy. The most known chemicals having bird repellency effect are fungicides like Thiram (Griffin and Baumgartner, 1958, Proc. Of the Okla. Acad, of Sci., 78-82), Methiocarb also known as Mesurol (Stickley and Guarino, 1972, J. Wildlife Management 36(1), 150-152), Turpentine (Mason and Bonwell, 1993, Crop Protection 12(6), 453-457) and Anthraquinone commercialized under the brand name Avipel® (Werner et al., 2011, Applied Animal Behaviour Science 129, 162-169). Ziram is another such chemical known to have bird repellency effect and being commercialized under the brand name Korit®.

[0005] Spices and aromatic plants have also been tested for their bird repellency potential. One of the best documented is garlic, most particularly a garlic extract usually described as “garlic oil”. For example, such garlic oil has been demonstrated to have some levelof repellent effect on European starlings (Hile et al., 2004, J. Agric. Food Chem. 52, 2192- 2196). Chili pepper and more particularly its main component, Capsaicin, is also known to be irritating to birds. It has even been commercialized in the form of a bird repellent gel under the brand name AviGo® by the company Rentokil®. There are also several reports indicating that black pepper and its main component piperine have some bird repellent effect. This seems to be so, however, only at high concentrations (0.5 to 1%) where either quails or European starlings reduce their consumption of treated food, whereas food consumption is unaffected at lower doses (Hilmi et al., 2015, Media Petemakan 38(3): 150-155; Mason and Clarke, 1995, Auk 112: 511-514).

[0006] Recent patent publication proposes the treatment of seeds with an extract of a pepper plant of the genus Piper (patent application WO2020 / 169761). Specifically, a preferred way to apply the plant extract is in the form of an oleoresin obtained from a mixture of a steam distillate of the black pepper plant and a solvent-extracted resin of the black pepper plant. The use of an extract of black pepper has demonstrated good repellency effect on seed consumption by the birds and, most importantly, no negative effect on the treated seed.

[0007] However, it has been observed that oleoresin, or any solvent-extracted resin, is a very sticky composition and seeds coated with such oleoresin are not easily processable in the usual sowing devices, thereby affecting the sowing efficacy and ultimately the harvestable yield.

[0008] The problem is solved by adding activated carbon to the resinous solvent extract. The present disclosure allows better seed flow in the sowing devices, thereby an improved plantability, without impacting germination of the seeds and / or the good repellency effect of the extract of black pepper.

[0009] The present disclosure proposes an economical, and environmentally safe product, e.g. preferably sourced from a biological material, that has a bird repelling effect and that can, at the same time, safely be used on various crop seeds, i.e. without affecting the seed’s biology (i.e., germination).SUMMARY

[0010] One aspect of the present disclosure is a composition comprising (1) an extract of a pepper plant of the genus Piper and (2) activated carbon.

[0011] In a certain embodiment, the composition comprises between 1 and 15% (w / w) of activated carbon.

[0012] In a particular embodiment, the composition comprises activated carbon obtained from an organic source material.

[0013] Preferably, the composition is in the form of an oil-in-water emulsion.

[0014] In another embodiment, the composition further comprises at least one thickener. Preferably said thickener is selected from cellulose-based thickeners, nonionic polysaccharide gums, anionic polysaccharides, native or modified starches, quillaja extract, yucca extract, synthetic polymeric thickeners, organic associative thickeners, amorphous silica, clay minerals, or combinations thereof. Preferably, the cellulose-based thickener is microfibrillated cellulose. More preferably, said thickener is a combination of cellulose-based thickener and amorphous silica.

[0015] According to a certain embodiment, the extract of a pepper plant of the genus Piper comprises a solvent-extracted resin.

[0016] According to a certain embodiment, the extract of a pepper plant of the genus Piper is an oleoresin.

[0017] In a second aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method for obtaining a composition for protecting plant propagation material from free-living birds comprising the steps of preparing an extract of a pepper plant of the genus Piper and mixing said extract with activated carbon until homogenization to obtain a mixture. Preferably, said homogenization leads to an oil-in-water emulsion. Preferably said mixture comprising the extract of pepper plant and the activated carbon is further mixed with at least one thickener preferably selected from cellulose-based thickeners, nonionic polysaccharide gums, anionic polysaccharides, native or modified starches, quillaja extract, yucca extract, synthetic polymeric thickeners,organic associative thickeners, amorphous silica, clay minerals, or combinations thereof. More preferably, the cellulose-based thickener is microfibrillated cellulose.

[0018] In a third aspect, the disclosure relates to a viable plant propagation material covered with the composition as defined above. In a particular embodiment said viable plant propagation material is a seed. In another particular embodiment, said viable plant propagation material is a fruit. In a different embodiment, said viable plant propagation material is a seed or a fruit maturing on the plant producing it.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the viable plant propagation material covered with the composition as defined above is further covered with at least two inorganic materials, also known as “fillers” in the field of seed coating, wherein the first inorganic material is selected from porous absorbing silicas, porous calcium carbonates, porous celluloses, inorganic materials made of spherical or rounded particles, inorganic materials made of planar-shaped particles, and a combination of inorganic materials containing spherical or rounded particles together with inorganic materials containing planar-shaped particles, and the second inorganic material is selected from inorganic materials made of spherical or rounded particles, inorganic materials made of planar-shaped particles, and a combination of inorganic materials containing spherical or rounded particles together with inorganic materials containing planar-shaped particles.

[0020] In a fourth aspect, the disclosure is also directed to a method for protecting plant propagation material from birds, comprising the step of treating such plant propagation material with a composition as described above.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, said method for protecting plant propagation material from birds further comprises the following steps : a) applying a first inorganic material selected from porous silicas, porous calcium carbonates, porous celluloses, inorganic materials made of spherical or rounded particles, inorganic materials made of planar-shaped particles, and a combination of inorganic materials containing spherical or rounded particles together with inorganic materials containing planar-shaped particles, to the plant propagation material coated with a composition as described above;b) then applying a second inorganic material selected from inorganic materials containing spherical or rounded particles, inorganic materials containing planarshaped particles, and a combination of inorganic materials containing spherical or rounded particles together with inorganic materials containing planar-shaped particles; the first and second inorganic materials being optionally separated by a liquid binder.

[0022] In a fifth aspect, the disclosure relates to a container containing the viable plant propagation material described above or obtained by a method as above described.

[0023] In a sixth aspect, the disclosure concerns a method for reducing the stickiness of seeds covered with a composition comprising an extract of a pepper plant of the genus Piper, characterized in that said composition comprises activated carbon.

[0024] In a seventh aspect, the disclosure relates to a method for improving the processing of seeds covered with a composition comprising an extract of a pepper plant of the genus Piper, characterized in that said composition comprises activated carbon.

[0025] Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.DEFINITIONS

[0026] In the context of the present disclosure, the term “seed flow” refers to a laboratory parameter aimed at inferring the stickiness of a seed coating composition and its impact on the proper functioning of seed sowing devices. It is intended to mean the speed at which seeds are passing through a funnel of a given diameter, determined either by measuring the quantity of seeds that are passing through such funnel during a given time, or by measuring the time taken by a given quantity of seeds to pass through the funnel. Different funnel sizes can be used, and a skilled person would know which funnel size or measurement time is best adapted to a given type of seeds (for example, a funnel adapted to corn seeds might not be suited for sunflower seeds). More sticky the seeds are, for example due to the seed coating, the less seeds will flow easily through the funnel. The weight of seeds dropping through the funnel every given time is recorded automatically from an analytical balance connected to a computer,and an average seed flow with standard deviation is computed from a series of measurements of a given sample. A normalized value of seed flow with respect to untreated seeds (being the reference with the highest seed flow) is also calculated and plotted to understand the extent of reduction of seed flow due to the composition. For an early determination of seed flow, the seed flow is measured at 24 hours after treatment when the seeds have equilibrated with the room environment. For a later determination of seed flow, the seed flow is measured again after several days. Typically, measurements of seed flow are made at 24h and 10 days after treatment in order to get information about the effect of seed treatment early after treatment and after some storage time. However, other time points may also be used to measure seed flow and the skilled person would be able to determine which time is more suitable for e.g. a given seed or a given treatment. Seed flow is an artificial lab measurement that correlates well with the efficacy of real-life industrial devices used in the seed coating industry, as well as with agricultural devices used for planting seeds. For example, a poor seed flow is a good indicator of a poor performance in a seed treater, i.e. the device used for coating seeds, of a poor seed handling like bagging or conveying from one place to another through a conveyor device, and of a poor plantability with the sowing devices.

[0027] In the context of the present disclosure, the term “plantability” is the capacity of seeds to be sown individually from a seed sowing device. It is a value determined by measuring the capacity of seeds to drop individually from a sowing device. Plantability of seeds is very important in the field so that two seeds are not dropped in one place (e.g. two com plants cannot grow together in the same exact place as they will compete for the same resources and not grow optimally). Plantability is expressed by a singulation percentage, measured by the percentage of seeds that are processed individually in a sowing device. A poor singulation will affect crop yield.

[0028] In the context of the present disclosure, the term “sticky” or “stickiness” relates to the adhesive property of the composition, or of a plant propagation material coated with such composition, to a surface. Particularly, once the composition is applied to seeds, said seeds might adhere to one another, which then impacts seed flow and plantability. The term “stickiness” can be replaced by “tackiness” or “adhesiveness”. Like the measurement of seed flow is a good indication of plantability, stickiness of the composition can also be measured as such, i.e. without being coated on seeds, as a first indication of the effect of a given composition on seed flow and plantability. The stickiness of the composition itself, as dried on a substrate (e.g. glass slide) may be measured with a steel probe (or other substrates like acrylic plastics orplastics mimicking seed surface energy, nitrile glove materials to mimic gloved hands) with appropriate instruments (such as Texture analyzer TA-XT Plus®). The methodology used brings the probe down into contact with the dried formulation for a specific length of time and then detaches it from the coated surface. The force required for the probe to detach from the slide as it moves up provides a measure of stickiness of the composition.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] Generally, the products, compositions and methods described herein can be applied to many types of plant propagation material, including seeds, but also to plantlets, plants, or the locus where plants grow, wherein the control of birds is desirable.Plant extract

[0030] One aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a composition comprising an extract of a pepper plant of the genus Piper and activated carbon.

[0031] In the context of the present disclosure, and not differently than the conventional meaning of this term, an “extract” is intended to mean a composition that is obtained by applying a chemical or mechanical process to a given biological material or a part thereof, and that does not contain the complete chemical constituents of the initially extracted material. In this meaning, an “extract” is not a material that has all the constituents of the initially extracted material put in a different shape, i.e. an extract is not a material that is simply ground or powdered. An extract is also not a mere physical part of the material to be extracted, e.g. the leaves or the seeds of a complete plant. An extract is therefore a chemical portion of the initially- extracted material, i.e. in the context of the disclosure, a chemical portion of a pepper plant of the genus Piper or only of a part thereof. A similar way to designate an extract is, for example, an “extracted chemical portion”.

[0032] According to one aspect, the plant extract is a solvent extract, i.e. the whole plant or only a certain part of the plant is put into contact with a solvent so as to extract certain components of the plant in the solvent. The solvent used for the extraction may be any nonaqueous, organic solvent, for example, ethanol, acetone, ether, dichloroethane, ethyl acetate or hexane. Preferably, the solvent used is a combination of solvents comprising ethyl acetate, acetone, and hexane. The extraction may be repeated several times in order to extract most of the extractable component. After solvent extraction, the solvents may be removed, e.g. by evaporation, thereby yielding a semi-solid extract usually qualified as a resin.

[0033] A preferred type of plant extract according to the disclosure is an extract known as oleoresin. An oleoresin can be obtained from the combination of two types of extracts: (i) a solvent-extracted resin as described above, and (ii) a distillate obtained by steam distillation. According to this embodiment, the plant extract according to the disclosure is an oleoresin comprising a solvent-extracted resin of the plant and a distillate obtained from steam distillation of the plant. According to a specific embodiment, the solvent extract and the steam-distilled extract are both obtained from a same plant material, i.e. the parts of the plant used for extraction are first subjected to steam distillation, from which the distillate component is obtained, and then these same parts of the plant used for steam distillation are then subjected to a solvent extraction, from which the resin component is obtained. Alternatively, the distillate component and the resin component can be obtained from different batches of plant material. Both the distillate component and the resin component are then combined together to form the oleoresin.

[0034] Oleoresins may contain various proportions of the distillate component and of the solvent-extracted resin component, or various proportions of the components normally present in a distillate and solvent-extracted resin if the extraction is carried out by a different process leading to similar types of extracts, so as to obtain oleoresins of various compositions and properties. Oleoresins can also be complemented with additional components that are not plant extracts. Such additional components can, for example, be propylene glycol, triacetin or any other additives that are known to facilitate the mixing of the distillate and resin components and hence improve the properties of the oleoresin.

[0035] Accordingly, the plant extract according to the disclosure is a composition comprising a solvent-extract, whatever the solvent and the solvent extraction method used. According to one embodiment, the solvent extract is a solvent-extracted resin, i.e. it is either the solvent-extracted resin itself or an oleoresin.

[0036] According to a particular embodiment, the composition is a composition comprising an extract of the plant Piper nigrum, o Piper longum. A preferred species of Piper for carrying out aspect of the disclosure is Piper nigrum. This includes the many cultivars and varieties of the species Piper nigrum.

[0037] Any parts of the plant of the genus Piper may be used to carry out aspects of the disclosure. According to a preferred embodiment, disclosed is a composition comprising an extract of the fruits of the black pepper plant Piper nigrum.

[0038] According to a specific aspect of the disclosure, the extract of fruits of the black pepper plant Piper nigrum is an oleoresin obtained from crushed pepper fruits.

[0039] According to the disclosure, the extract of the black pepper plant Piper nigrum is an extract containing piperine, a compound naturally present in several species of the genus Piper, most notably in the black pepper plant Piper nigrum. Accordingly, the extract is obtained by any means that is able to extract at least piperine. There are many known methods of extraction, such as those described in Gorgani et al. (2017), Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety 16: 124-140. According to one embodiment, the extract is a solvent extract. The solvent used for the extraction may be any non-aqueous, organic solvent, for example, ethanol, acetone, ether, di chloroethane, ethyl acetate or hexane. Preferably, the solvent used is a combination of solvents comprising ethyl acetate, acetone and hexane. The extraction may be repeated several times in order to extract most of the extractable component. After solvent extraction, solvents may be removed, e.g. by evaporation, thereby yielding a semisolid extract qualified as resin.

[0040] A preferred type of extract according to the disclosure is an oleoresin, comprising a mixture of a steam distillate of the black pepper plant Piper nigrum and a solvent- extracted resin of the black pepper plant Piper nigrum.

[0041] A particular aspect of the present disclosure is therefore directed to a composition comprising an oleoresin of fruits of the black pepper plant Piper nigrum and activated carbon.

[0042] Black pepper solvent extracts, or compositions comprising such extracts like oleoresins, contain the compound piperine (Gorgani et al., 2017, Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, Vol. 16: 124-140).

[0043] Oleoresins of black pepper Piper nigrum may contain various proportions of the distillate component and of the resin component, or various proportions of the components normally present in a distillate and solvent-extracted resin if the extraction is carried out by a different process leading to similar types of extracts, so as to obtain an oleoresin with desired quantities of piperine. Depending on the requirements, oleoresins with various proportions of piperine can be obtained by mixing appropriate quantities of the resin and the distillate, or various proportions of the components normally present in a distillate and solvent-extracted resin if the extraction is carried out by a different process leading to similar types of extracts and dosing the piperine in the oleoresin. Piperine content can be measured using a standardprotocol, more particularly by measuring absorbance after extraction in ethanol, at a maximal absorbance of 342-345 nm under exposure by a UV light source. Oleoresins may contain at least 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60% w / w of piperine. Oleoresins may contain from 10 % to 60 % w / w of piperine. A preferred composition contains between 10 and 20% w / w of piperine. Oleoresins may also contain various proportions of volatile oils depending on the quantity of distillate, or similar type of extract, introduced for its preparation.

[0044] Aspects of the disclosure may also be carried out with chemically-synthesized piperine (Olsen and Spessard, 1981, J. Agric. Food Chem. 29: 942-944). Accordingly, the disclosure is also directed to a plant propagation material treated, or covered, or coated, or dressed, or overspread, or overlaid, with piperine.

[0045] A preferred source for the extract of plants of the genus Piper is the fruit of such plants, most particularly the fruits of the black pepper plant Piper nigrum. The fruits of the black pepper plant Piper nigrum from which the extract is obtained may be in any form, i.e. fresh or dried fruits, ripe or unripe, cooked or uncooked. Preferably, the fruits of the black pepper plant Piper nigrum from which the extract is obtained are in the form of cooked and dried unripe fruits. In order to improve the extraction process, the fruits are crushed before being subject to steam distillation and / or put in contact with one or more solvent.Activated Carbon

[0046] One major issue with compositions comprising an extract of a pepper plant as defined above, especially when that extract is in the form of a resin or oleoresin, is its stickiness. As a result of such stickiness, once applied to plant propagation materials, e.g. seeds, for protecting them from birds, such plant propagation materials stick or aggregate to one another, thereby decreasing their capacity of being sown or planted easily, i.e. decreasing their plantability, particularly when processed in a sowing device. The inventors have found out that, when activated carbon is mixed with a composition comprising the extract of a pepper plant of the genus Piper as defined above, such composition becomes less sticky. As a consequence, when seeds or other plant propagation materials are coated with such a composition, they aggregate much less and their plantability is improved. There exist various methods in the art to measure the stickiness of a composition. As an example of such methods, for seeds coated with a composition according to the disclosure, the stickiness of the composition can be evaluated by the seed flow method, i.e. by measuring the flow of the seeds coated with said composition through a funnel, as further detailed above and in the experimental part.

[0047] The disclosure relates to a composition comprising (1) an extract of a pepper plant of the genus Piper and (2) activated carbon.

[0048] Preferably, the composition is in the form of an oil-in-water emulsion.

[0049] Activated carbon is an amorphous graphite-like structure in which the hexagonal carbon rings, many of which have undergone cleavage, are randomly orientated and lack the directional relationship with one another that is present in single graphite crystals. This makes their overall structure disordered. Furthermore, the separation between the layers is greater than that found in graphite, viz 3.60 A. Because of the high level of structural imperfections in activated carbons, there are many possibilities for reactions with carbon atoms at the edges of the planar layers. As a result, oxygen-containing organic functional groups, which are located mostly at the edges of broken graphitic ring systems, are present on the surface of the carbon. Although the exact chemical structures of these surface oxides are not known with certainty, it has been suggested that the surface oxides are the oxides most often present in thermally activated carbons. Basic surface groups have also been identified, and it appears that the nature of the surface groups depends upon conditions during and after manufacture.

[0050] Because of its dense porosity, activated carbon is characterized by a large specific surface area, typically in the range of 400 to 1500 m2per gram, and in some cases as high as 2500 m2per gram. Thanks to its amorphous structure, activated carbon has a broad range of pore structures suitable for adsorption of many different liquids and gases, and a density of 0.25-0.75g / cc. All types of activated carbons are suitable for the invention, i.e. they can all improve seed flow. A preferred activated carbon is an activated carbon having an internal surface area larger than 400 m2 / g, as measured by the nitrogen Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method.

[0051] Another means to describe the activated carbons that are most suitable for carrying out the invention is to characterize them with other physical parameters that are specific to activated carbons, such as their specific surface area measured by gas adsorption and analyzed by several models, including BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller), Langmuir, and BJH (Barrett- Joyner-Halenda), that are all well known to the person skilled in the art. Additional important characteristics are the C-constant and porosity. The Constant C is a measure of the strength of adsorption of the activated carbon, measured for the interaction N2-carbon using the BET method. Activated carbons can also be characterized by the porosity, i.e., the surface area and volume of pores of different sizes they contain, i.e. essentially micropores and mesopores, as well as their external surface area.

[0052] The inventors have found out that the Constant C determined with the BET model is an important parameter for characterizing activated carbons, more specifically when considered in combination with the specific surface area of a given activated carbon. For the purpose of the invention, it appears that the association of certain ranges of values of the specific surface area and of the Constant C can be a good indicator of the activated carbons that are the most suitable for the invention, i.e. those making seeds coated with a composition according to the invention less sticky as measured by the seed flow method. According to these parameters, it was found that activated carbons having a specific surface area comprised between about 700 and about 2300 m2 / g and Constant C value comprised between about 100 and about 1400 are preferred for carrying out the invention. More preferred are activated carbons having a specific surface area comprised between about 800 and about 2100 m2 / g and Constant C value comprised between about 110 and about 1300. Use of the term “about” in this application, in particular to describe range values, is intended to mean the exact values as well as plus and minus error margin as would be considered by a person skilled in the art.

[0053] Among those preferred activated carbons, it was also found that activated carbons can be grouped in three main categories according to such ranges for “specific surface area / Constant C” values: a first category of activated carbons having a high specific surface area comprised between about 1300 m2 / g and about 2300 m2 / g, preferably between about 1400 m2 / g and about 2000 m2 / g, and a low Constant C comprised between about 100 and about 300, preferably between about 100 and about 200; a second category of activated carbons having a specific surface area comprised between about 700 m2 / g and about 1200 m2 / g, preferably between about 800 m2 / g and about 1100 m2 / g and a Constant C comprised between about 800 and about 1300, preferably between about 900 and about 1300; and a third category of activated carbons having a specific surface area comprised between about 800 m2 / g and about 1300 m2 / g, preferably between about 900 m2 / g and about 1200 m2 / g and a Constant C comprised between about 200 and about 500, preferably between about 300 and about 500. A further preferred activated carbon according to the invention is an activated carbon according to the first category, having a specific surface area comprised between about 1400 m2 / g and about 2000 m2 / g and a Constant C comprised between about 100 and about 200. Among the activated carbons of the first category, more preferred activated carbons are those having a specific surface area comprised between about 1500 m2 / g and about 1700 m2 / g and a Constant C comprised between about 110 and about 160. An even more preferred activated carbon for carrying out the invention is an activated carbon having a specific surface area comprisedbetween about 1550 m2 / g and about 1650 m2 / g and a Constant C comprised between about 110 and about 130. The IUPAC has classified pores of activated carbons in three categories, depending on their sizes: Macropores: (> 50 nm diameter) Mesopores: (2-50 nm diameter) Micropores: (< 2 nm diameter). Micropores generally contribute to the majority of the internal surface area. Macro and mesopores can generally be regarded as the highways into the carbon particle and are crucial for kinetics (Gupta, T., 2018 Carbon: The Black, the Gray and the Transparent. Springer International Publishing. XIV, 319).

[0054] Due to its large surface area and diversity of pores, activated carbon has a great variety of applications particularly as adsorbent (physical adsorption primarily by Van der Waals forces to external or internal pore surface or chemisorption via covalent bonds with active sites of activated carbon) and for entrapment of liquids / vapors in its pores as any other porous material.

[0055] Data for parameters of the preferred activated carbons according to the invention are provided in Table 1.

[0056] Preferred activated carbons for carrying out the invention are those having a total surface area (mesopore surface area + micropore surface area + external surface area comprised between about 800 m2 / g and about 4000 m2 / g, preferably between about 1000 m2 / g and about 4000 m2 / g, both preferably with a micropore surface area comprised between about 800 m2 / g and about 2200 m2 / g, a mesopore surface area comprised between about 30 m2 / g and about 1000 m2 / g and an external surface area comprised between about 20 m2 / g and about 800 m2 / g. Among those preferred activated carbons, preferred activated carbons are those having a high mesopore surface, preferably above 500m2 / g and preferably comprised between about 500m2 / g and 1100m2 / g, preferably between about 500m2 / g and 900m2 / g. Such activated carbons also correspond to those of the first category described above. Even more preferred ones are those having a total surface area comprised between about 2000 m2 / g and about 4000 m2 / g. Further preferred activated carbons are those having a mesopore surface area comprised between about 700 m2 / g and about 900 m2 / g. Activated carbons can be classified based on their size, preparation methods, and industrial applications: powdered activated carbon having fine granules of diameter less than 1 mm in size, with an average diameter, surface to volume ratio, and a small diffusion distance; granular activated carbon having relatively larger particle size compared to powdered activated carbon, and consequently presenting a smaller external surface; extruded activated carbon being a mix of powdered activated carbon with a binder and shaped into a cylinder; bead activated carbon being similar to extruded activated carbon inmechanical strength and dust content; impregnated activated carbon, being impregnated with inorganic chemicals inside the pores of the activated carbon; and polymer-coated activated carbon (Gupta, T., 2018 Carbon: The Black, the Gray and the Transparent. Springer International Publishing. XIV, 319).

[0057] The activated carbon adsorption performance is usually defined by the iodine number, which is the most fundamental parameter used to characterize activated carbon performance. Iodine number is defined as the milligrams of iodine adsorbed by one gram of carbon (typical range 500-1200 mg / g).

[0058] In a particular embodiment, the activated carbon used in the composition according to the disclosure has an iodine number comprised between 700 and 1200 mg / g, preferably comprised between 900 and 1200 mg / g.

[0059] Activated carbon can be obtained from any carbonaceous source materials like mineral materials such as anthracite, lignite and bituminous coals, but also organic materials such as wood, lignin or coconut shells (Saleem et al. 2019, Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, 9:775-802).

[0060] The activation of carbon can be made physically or chemically. The physical or chemical activation process may be chosen depending on the type of source material. Typically, physical activation is performed in two steps, a first step being carbonization to produce non- porous char, and a second step being the activation with carbon dioxide (CO2), N2, or the flow of steam. Chemical activation is a process that uses chemicals such as NaOH, KOH, H3PO4, and ZnCh, followed by pyrolysis, in the absence of air at 500 to 900 °C (Muttil et al. 2022, Applied Science, 13, 257; El-Nemr et al., 2022, Molecules, 27, 4840; Carrott. et al., 2008, Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, 264-271).

[0061] For the purpose of the disclosure, any type of activated carbon is suitable. In a particular embodiment, the composition comprises activated carbon obtained from organic source materials. Preferably, activated carbon is synthesized from natural wood or coconut shells.

[0062] Besides an advantageous seed flow, an additional parameter for assessing the efficacy of activated carbons in the context of the invention, i.e. for being used in a formulation according to the invention for being coated onto seeds, is the ability not to buildup in the seedtreatment machinery as a paste-like material. The inventors have found out that this property is well correlated with the preferred activated carbons described above.

[0063] A preferred activated carbon for carrying out the invention is a wood-based powdered activated carbon, a preferred example of which is the activated carbon marketed under the brand name Nuchar® SA-20.Table 1 : Physical properties of selected preferred activated carbons1Sur ace area measured according to the BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller) method2C Constant measured accordin to the BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller) method3Micropore sur ace area measured with the t-plot method based on the Langmuir adsorption model4External sur ace area measured with the t-plot method based on the Langmuir adsorption model5Mesopore sur ace area measured accordingto the BJH (Barrett-Joyner-Halenda) method

[0064] In a certain embodiment, the composition comprises between 1 and 15% (w / w) of activated carbon, preferably between 1.5% and 12% (w / w) of activated carbon, more preferably between 4 and 8.5% (w / w) of activated carbon. A preferred composition comprises about 4% of activated carbon.Thickener

[0065] The addition of thickeners is usually desirable and common industry practice in order to avoid or limit sedimentation of formulations and improve their storability over time. In the case where the composition according to the disclosure is an oil-in-water emulsion, the addition of a thickener might however work opposite to the initial effect sought of improving the processability of coated propagation materials in sowing devices. However, the inventors have found out that the incorporation of at least one thickener into a composition comprising an extract of a pepper plant of the genus Piper and activated carbon has no significant negative effect on the processability of coated seeds e.g. in sowing devices, as for example determined by measuring the seed flow.

[0066] These effects are particularly observed when the composition is in the form of an oil-in-water emulsion and that the activated carbon is in the oil phase, the thickener in the water phase and the plant extract is a composition comprising a solvent-extracted resin or an oleoresin.

[0067] In a particular embodiment, the composition is therefore further comprising at least one thickener.

[0068] In a preferred embodiment, said at least one thickener is selected from cellulose- based thickeners, nonionic polysaccharide gums, anionic polysaccharides, native or modified starches, quillaja extract, yucca extract, synthetic polymeric thickeners, organic associative thickeners, amorphous silica, clay minerals, or combinations thereof.

[0069] More preferably, the at least one thickener is selected from cellulose-based thickeners, amorphous silica and nonionic polysaccharide gum or a combination thereof. Preferably, said nonionic polysaccharide gum is selected from xanthan gum, locust bean gum, guar gum, agar, gellan gum, konjac gum. More preferably, the nonionic polysaccharide gum is xanthan gum.

[0070] Preferably, the cellulose-based thickener is selected from hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), hydroxyethyl propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), microcrystalline celluloses, microfibrillated celluloses, cellulose nano crystals and anionic celluloses. More preferably, the cellulose-based thickener is microfibrillated cellulose.

[0071] Even more preferably, the at least one thickener is selected from microfibrillated cellulose, amorphous silica and xanthan gum or a combination thereof.

[0072] In a most preferred embodiment, the at least one thickener is microfibrillated cellulose.

[0073] In another embodiment, said at least one thickener is a combination of cellulose- based polymer and amorphous silica. Preferably, the cellulose-based polymer is a microfibrillated cellulose.

[0074] In another embodiment, said at least one thickener is a combination of cellulose- based polymer, amorphous silica and a nonionic polysaccharide gum. Preferably, the nonionic polysaccharide gum is xanthan gum and preferably, the cellulose-based polymer is a microfibrillated cellulose.

[0075] In a certain embodiment, the at least one thickener is present in an amount below or equal to 1% (w / w) in the composition. Preferably, the composition comprises between 0.1 and 1% (w / w) of the said at least one thickener, more preferably between 0.12% and 1% (w / w) of the said at least one thickener, even more preferably between 0.3 and 1% (w / w) of the said at least one thickener.

[0076] In another embodiment, the composition comprises between 0.12% and 0.40% (w / w) of the said at least one thickener.

[0077] In the context of the present disclosure, the term “microfibrillated cellulose” designates a cellulose-based product as described, for example, in patents US4481077, US4374702 and US4341807. Microfibrillated cellulose is also known as "reticulated" cellulose or as "superfine" cellulose, or as "cellulose nanofibrils". Microfibrillated cellulose is a material made from wood cellulose fibers, agricultural raw materials or waste products, where the individual microfibrils have been partly or totally detached from one another. Microfibrillated cellulose can be produced in a number of different ways. For example, it is possible to mechanically treat cellulosic fibers so that microfibrils are formed (patent applications WO20 11051882, W02007091942).

[0078] Particularly preferred microfibrillated celluloses are the ones commercialized by the company Borregaard under the tradename Exilva®.

[0079] Particularly, preferred microcrystalline celluloses are the ones commercialized by the company IFF under the trade name Avicel ®.

[0080] In a preferred embodiment, organic associative thickeners are selected from hydrophobically modified alkali swellable emulsions (HASE), hydrophobically modified ethoxylated urethane resins (HEUR) and hydrophobically modified hydroxyethylcellulose (HMHEC).

[0081] HASE are acid functional acrylic polymers and are activated at pH higher than pH 7. Preferred HASE are acrylic associative like the Acusol™ products commercialized by the company Dow® or the Rheovis ® HS products commercialized by the company BASF™.

[0082] Preferably, HMHEC are cetyl modified hydroxyethylcelluloses like for example Polysurf™ 67 cs and Natrosol™ Plus 330 CS commercialized by the company Ashland™.

[0083] Particularly, anionic polysaccharides are selected from carrageenan, pectin and alginate.

[0084] Particularly, anionic cellulose is carboxymethyl cellulose, such as for example the one commercialized by the company DuPont under the tradename Lattice® NT or Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose- Acetate Succinate from the company IFF.

[0085] Particularly, clay minerals are selected from montmorillonites, bentonite, kaolin and attapulgites.

[0086] Particularly, amorphous silica can be of the Aerosil® series of hydrophilic fumed silicas commercialized by the company Evonik, such as Aerosil® 200.

[0087] Particularly, synthetic polymeric thickeners can be the ones commercialized by Carbopols.Inorganic materials

[0088] In addition to the already mentioned effects, the inventors have found that, when at least two particular inorganic materials are coated on the plant propagation material, in particular the seeds, in addition to the above-described composition, the stickiness of the plant propagation material or seeds coated with it is further decreased compared to plants solely coated with the composition of the disclosure, as measured by e.g. the seed flow or plantabilityof such plant propagation material or seeds, particularly when the plant extract is a composition comprising a solvent-extracted resin or an oleoresin.

[0089] In one embodiment, the plant propagation material, in particular the seed, coated with a composition according to the disclosure is further coated with at least two inorganic materials wherein the first inorganic material is selected from porous absorbing silicas, porous calcium carbonates, porous celluloses, inorganic materials made of spherical or rounded particles, inorganic materials made of planar-shaped particles, and a combination of inorganic materials containing spherical or rounded particles together with inorganic materials containing planar-shaped particles, and the second inorganic material is selected from inorganic materials containing spherical or rounded particles, inorganic materials containing planar-shaped particles, and a combination of inorganic materials containing spherical or rounded particles together with inorganic materials containing planar-shaped particles.

[0090] In a preferred embodiment, the first inorganic material is selected from porous absorbing silicas and combination of at least one inorganic material containing planar particles and at least one inorganic material containing spherical or rounded particles.

[0091] Examples of such inorganic materials are provided hereafter with reference to certain actual commercial products. It shall be understood that these are only examples, aimed at referring to their composition. As a consequence, these examples shall also encompass all equivalent products having similar composition proposed by alternative sources.

[0092] In a preferred embodiment, the size of first inorganic material is lower than 100 microns, more preferably lower than 70 microns, even more preferably lower than 30 microns.

[0093] In a preferred embodiment, the porous absorbing silicas are mesoporous silicas selected from Sipernats®, Zeofree® or Aeropearl® products from the company Evonik, and other mesoporous silicas from the company Grace. A preferred mesoporous silica is the product Sipernat® 320 from the company Evonik.

[0094] In a preferred embodiment, said combination is a mixture of talc and at least one inorganic material containing spherical or rounded particles (combinations are for example Sunmica®, Sepiret Flo®, Agipowder® 772, Fluidus® 028 or other Fluidus® powders). More preferably, said combination is a mixture of talc and titanium dioxide or a mixture of talc, silica and quartz.

[0095] In a preferred embodiment, porous calcium carbonates are modified calcium carbonates.

[0096] In a preferred embodiment, porous celluloses are microcrystalline celluloses such as Avicel® microcrystalline celluloses commercialized by the company IFF.

[0097] In a preferred embodiment, the second inorganic material containing planarshaped particles is selected from hydrous magnesium silicate mineral (talc), mica, and graphite (e.g., Seedworx® 4137, Easyslip®, EZ-slide® seed flow lubricants).

[0098] In a preferred embodiment, the second inorganic material containing spherical or rounded particles is selected from quartz, silica, and titanium dioxide.

[0099] In a preferred embodiment, the second inorganic material is a combination of at least one inorganic material containing planar particles and at least one inorganic material containing spherical or rounded particles. Preferably, said combination is a mixture of talc and at least one inorganic material containing spherical or rounded particles (combinations are for example Sunmica®, Sepiret Flo®, Agipowder® 772, Fluidus® 028 or other Fluidus® powders). More preferably, said combination is a mixture of talc and titanium dioxide or a mixture of talc, silica and quartz.

[0100] Preferably, the plant propagation material is further coated with a liquid binder before application of the second inorganic material in order to facilitate the coating of said second inorganic material. As a consequence, the two inorganic materials are separated by a liquid binder. In a preferred embodiment, said liquid binder is a seed coating product. Preferably said seed coating product is a coating liquid of the Peridiam® Extra line or Peridiam® Quality line. More preferably, the seed coating product is the product commercialized as Peridiam® Extra 317 or Peridiam® Quality 316 commercialized by the company Syensqo.

[0101] In a preferred embodiment, the first inorganic material is a porous absorbing silica, preferably a mesoporous silica (such as Sipemat® 320), the at least second inorganic material is a combination of titanium dioxide and talc (such as Agipowder® 772) or a combination of talc, silica and quartz (such as Sepiret® Flo), and the liquid binder is a seed coating product (such as Peridiam® Extra 317 or Peridiam® Quality 316).

[0102] In a certain embodiment, the seeds are treated with between 5-100 g / 50000 seeds with the first inorganic material, preferably between 5-25 g / 50000 seeds. The most appropriate quantity depends on the amount of composition applied on the seeds, the seed size, whether it is a hybrid seed, the nature of the crop, and the amount of oil that needs to be absorbed or adsorbed without excessively drying the seeds. A skilled person would know how to adjust these quantities depending on such parameters.

[0103] In a certain embodiment, the seeds are treated with between 100-400 g / lOOkg of seeds of the second inorganic material, preferably between 100-200 g / lOOkg, to provide the desired slippage or flow without creating excessive dust. A skilled person would know how to adjust these quantities depending on such parameters.

[0104] In a certain embodiment, the seeds are treated with between 100-400ml / 100kg of the liquid binder, preferably between 150-400 ml / lOOkg, to be able to modify the seed surface for adequate binding of the second inorganic material and prevent excessive dust formation.Method ofobtention

[0105] In a further aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method for obtaining a composition for protecting plant propagation material from free-living birds comprising the steps of preparing an extract of a pepper plant of the genus Piper, more particularly of the species Piper nigrum, and mixing said extract with activated carbon until homogenization.

[0106] Preferably, the extract of a pepper plant of the genus Piper consists of an oleoresin.

[0107] In a preferred embodiment, the composition comprising the extract of pepper plant and the activated carbon is further mixed with at least one thickener.

[0108] In a preferred embodiment, the oleoresin and activated carbon are mixed together to obtain an oil phase, and the at least one thickener is mixed together with water to form the water phase, said water phase being then added to the oil phase and mixed until obtention of a homogeneous oil-in-water emulsion.

[0109] Preferably, the oleoresin and activated carbon are mixed at low shear (shear rate of about between 3000 and 4000 rpm), the at least one thickener is mixed with water at high shear (shear rate of about between 4000 and 6000 rpm) and the water phase is mixed to the oil phase at low shear (shear rate of about between 3000 and 4000 rpm).

[0110] In a preferred embodiment, said thickener is selected from cellulose-based thickeners, nonionic polysaccharide gums, anionic polysaccharides, native or modified starches, quillaja extract, yucca extract, synthetic polymeric thickeners, organic associative thickeners, amorphous silica, clay minerals, or combinations thereof.

[0111] More preferably, said thickener is selected from cellulose-based thickeners, amorphous silica and nonionic polysaccharide gum or a combination thereof. Preferably, said nonionic polysaccharide gum is selected from xanthan gum, locust bean gum, guar gum, agar, gellan gum, konjac gum. More preferably, the nonionic polysaccharide gum is xanthan gum.

[0112] Preferably, the cellulose-based thickeners are selected from hydroxy ethyl cellulose (HEC), hydroxyethyl propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), microcrystalline celluloses,microfibrillated celluloses, cellulose nano crystals and anionic celluloses. More preferably, the cellulose-based thickener is microfibrillated cellulose.

[0113] Even more preferably, said thickener is selected from microfibrillated cellulose, amorphous silica and xanthan gum or a combination thereof.

[0114] In a most preferred embodiment, said thickener is microfibrillated cellulose.

[0115] In another embodiment, said thickener is a combination of cellulose-based polymer and amorphous silica. Preferably, the cellulose-based polymer is a microfibrillated cellulose.

[0116] In another embodiment, said thickener is a combination of cellulose-based polymer, amorphous silica and a nonionic polysaccharide gum. Preferably the nonionic polysaccharide gum is xanthan gum and preferably, the cellulose-based polymer is a microfibrillated cellulose.Plant propagation material

[0117] In the context of the present disclosure, the term “treated” is intended to mean that a process of application of the composition on the plant propagation material is performed, and that the resulting plant propagation material is actually covered, or, in a synonymous meaning, coated, dressed, overspread, or overlaid, with such composition. Accordingly, a further aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a plant propagation material covered, or coated, or dressed, or overspread, or overlaid, with a composition as defined above.

[0118] When the plant propagation materials, e.g. seeds, that are treated, or covered, or coated, or dressed, or overspread, or overlaid, with a composition of the disclosure, said plant propagation materials are “repellent” or “unpalatable” to birds. It means that their consumption by birds is reduced compared to untreated plant propagation materials, e.g. seeds, i.e. compared to plant propagation material that is not covered, or coated, or dressed, or overspread, or overlaid, with such composition. It also means that the plant propagation material is easily processed by planting or sowing devices and its processing in such devices is not impaired by the part of the composition having the bird repellency activity, i.e. the extract of the pepper plant of the genus Piper.

[0119] One important advantage of the composition according to the disclosure is that they are safe to plant propagation materials, in particular to seeds. Safe to plant propagation materials, in particular seeds, in the context of the present disclosures means that the capacityof such plant propagation materials or seeds to germinate and to grow a fully fertile plant is not affected by the treatment, covering, coating, dressing, overlay, or overspray, of such plant propagation materials or seeds with the composition of the disclosure.

[0120] In the case of seeds, but this is generally also true for other types of plant propagation materials, the natural capacity to germinate and to grow fully fertile plants is generally variable among the seeds of a same plant species or even plant variety. This is due to the fact that a certain small percentage of non-viable seeds are systematically produced by plants. In the seeds production industry, this may also be due to certain damages caused to some seeds during the various processing steps of the seeds in the process of seed production. Usually, that percentage of non-viable seeds is low, i.e. in the range of less than 5 percent. It may however be different, ideally lower but sometimes higher, depending on the type of plant or plant variety from which the seeds are produced, but also on the quality of the seed production process. The capacity of seeds to germinate and to grow fully fertile plants is therefore to be understood as referring to an average capacity assessed on several seeds, preferably at least 10 seeds, but more preferably 50 or 100 seeds.

[0121] Accordingly, the treated, or covered, or coated, or dressed, or overspread, or overlaid, plant propagation material, in particular the treated, or covered, or coated, or dressed, or overspread, or overlaid, seeds, according to the disclosure are plant propagation materials or seeds whose capacity to germinate and to grow a fully fertile plant is not significantly affected by their treatment, covering, coating, dressing, overlay, overspray, with the composition of the disclosure.

[0122] The compositions according to the disclosure and the plant propagation materials, in particular seeds, treated, or covered, or coated, or dressed, or overspread, or overlaid, with such compositions are repellent and / or unpalatable to birds. The birds relevant in the context of the present disclosure are birds living freely in the wild, i.e. so-called wild birds, and not so-called domestic birds that are raised by man and retained in captivity for that purpose in any closed area, be it a cage, a warehouse, an area covered by a net, or even one that is not covered in case of birds that are not able, or disabled, to fly. However, certain birds are first raised in captivity and then later released in the wild, generally once adult, and such birds are also relevant to the present disclosure, at least for the part of their life when they are freely living in nature. All birds relevant to the disclosure can therefore be characterized as free-living birds, whether they spend their entire life in nature, or they first are raised by man and later released in nature. The birds relevant to the disclosure can therefore also be characterized asnon-captive birds, or birds not in captivity. They can also be characterized as birds with the exception of domestic, or captive, birds. In the context of seeds as plant propagation material, the compositions of the disclosure are repellent and / or unpalatable to birds whose food is made, partially or entirely, of plant seeds. Such birds are usually referred to as seed-eating birds or granivorous birds. According to such embodiment, the disclosure is most useful against birds feeding on crop seeds. Birds feeding on crop seeds include, for example, birds of the family Corvidae, more specifically of the genus Corvus, like e.g. the rook Corvus frugilegus, the carrion crow Corvus corone, or the western jackdaw Corvus monedula. Birds feeding on crop seeds also include for example, birds of the family Columbidae, more specifically of the genus Columba, like e.g. the common wood pigeon Columba palumbus, the rock dove or feral pigeon Columba livia, or also the collared dove Streptopelia decaocto. Birds feeding on crop seeds also include for example, birds of the family Phasianidae, more specifically of the genus Phasianus, like e.g. the common pheasant Phasianus colchicus, or of the genus Perdix, like e.g. the grey partridge Perdix perdix. The common starling Sturnus vulgaris is also such a well- known crop seeds-eating bird.

[0123] The seeds according to the disclosure may be any seeds from any plants. Preferably, the seeds according to the disclosure are seeds of crop plants, i.e. seeds of cultivated plants. Seeds are attractive to birds both at the time when they are sown individually, and at the time when they are on the matured plants that produce them. Accordingly, aspect of the disclosure are applicable to isolated and processed seeds that are ready for being sown. Such seeds may be treated, or covered, or coated, or dressed, or overspread, or overlaid, with the composition of the disclosure either before sowing, whereby the composition is coated onto the seeds, or they may be treated before or after sowing at the sowing plots and rows. The seeds may also still be present on the plant that produces them, for example when they have matured and have not yet been harvested. Such seeds may be directly exposed, such as seeds of cereals or of sunflower, or they may be borne by, or embedded in, a fruit. Both types of seeds are concerned with the disclosure. According to a particular embodiment, the seeds according to the disclosure are seeds that are present in a field in which they are placed for being grown or in which they have been grown, in which latter case the seeds are present on the ripening plants.

[0124] Accordingly, the disclosure is also directed to a field comprising seeds treated with a composition according to the disclosure.

[0125] The seeds or other plant propagation materials according to the disclosure may also be stored seeds that are packed in containers like e.g. bags or boxes. Accordingly, thedisclosure also encompasses any type of container like bags or boxes containing the seeds or other plant propagation materials according to the disclosure.

[0126] The disclosure is also directed to a container containing the viable plant propagation material covered with the composition as defined above.

[0127] Many crop plants are not cultivated from a seed, but rather by vegetative propagation. Vegetative propagation is a form of plant reproduction that does not involve sexual crossing, but that makes use of the capacity of certain plants to grow a new plant from a part of a parent plant. Such part of the parent plant may be any part depending on the plant concerned. It may also be a specialized reproductive organ in certain plants. Specialized reproductive organ from which a new plant can grow can be rhizomes, tubers, bulbs, runners, corms or suckers. Examples of crop plants growing from such organs are potatoes (tubers), onions, garlic, shallots (bulbs), apple trees, cherry trees, banana trees (suckers). Parts of plants that can be used as planting material to grow new plants may be stem or leaf cuttings. Example of a crop plant that can grow from cuttings is sugarcane (stem cuttings).

[0128] Overall, the compositions according to the disclosure can therefore be applied on various types of plant parts used for the reproduction of new plants. These plant parts include the seeds and fruits, but also all vegetative propagation parts of the plants. For the purpose of the present disclosure, all these plant parts can be covered under the term “plant propagation material” or “plant reproduction material”, which therefore includes all sexually-produced material (seeds and fruits) and asexually-produced material (plant parts for vegetative propagation).

[0129] According to a particular embodiment, the plant propagation material is a seed. According to another embodiment, the plant propagation material is a plant part for vegetative reproduction. Plant propagation material, be it seeds or any plant part for vegetative reproduction, according to the disclosure is a plant propagation material that is viable, in the sense that it can be sown and grown into a fertile plant. The plant propagation material according to the disclosure is therefore not one that has been prepared for food or feed purposes, i.e. not one that has for example been fermented, cooked or roasted. Accordingly, the plant propagation material of the disclosure is a viable, unfermented, uncooked or unroasted plant propagation material. It can therefore also be characterized as plant propagation material, with the exception of plant propagation material that is prepared for food or feed purposes, or alternatively, with the exception of plant propagation material that has been fermented, cooked or roasted.

[0130] Crop plants may be plants which can be obtained by conventional breeding and optimization methods or by biotechnological, genetic engineering, or gene editing methods or combinations of these methods, including genetically modified plants (GMO or transgenic plants) and plant cultivars or varieties which are protectable and non-protectable by plant breeders’ rights.

[0131] Genetically modified plants (GMO or transgenic plants) are plants in which a heterologous gene has been stably integrated into the genome. The expression “heterologous gene” essentially means a gene which is provided or assembled outside the plant and when introduced in the nuclear, chloroplastic or mitochondrial genome. This gene gives the transformed plant new or improved agronomic or other properties by expressing a protein or polypeptide of interest or by downregulating or silencing other gene(s) which are present in the plant (using for example, antisense technology, cosuppression technology, RNA interference - RNAi - technology or microRNA - miRNA - technology). A heterologous gene that is located in the genome is also called a transgene. A transgene that is defined by its particular location in the plant genome is called a transformation or transgenic event.

[0132] Seeds or plant propagation materials of crop plants which may be treated, or covered, or coated, or dressed, or overspread, or overlaid, in accordance with the compositions of the disclosure include seeds or plant propagation materials of the following: cotton, flax, grapevine, fruit, vegetables, such as Rosaceae sp. (for example pome fruits such as apples and pears, but also stone fruits such as apricots, cherries, almonds and peaches, and soft fruits such as strawberries), Ribesioidae sp., Juglandaceae sp., Betulaceae sp., Anacardiaceae sp., Fagaceae sp. , Moraceae sp., Oleaceae sp., Actinidaceae sp. , Lauraceae sp., Musaceae sp. (for example banana trees and plantations), Rubiaceae sp. (for example coffee), Theaceae sp., Sterculiceae sp., Rutaceae sp. (for example lemons, oranges and grapefruit); Solanaceae sp. (for example tomatoes), Liliaceae sp., Asteraceae sp. (for example lettuce), Umbelliferae sp., Cruciferae sp., Chenopodiaceae sp., Cucurbitaceae sp. (for example cucumber), Alliaceae sp. (for example leek, onion); major crop plants, such as Gramineae sp. (for example maize, turf, cereals such as wheat, rye, rice, barley, oats, millet and triticale), Asteraceae sp. (for example sunflower), Brassicaceae sp. (for example white cabbage, red cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, pak choi, kohlrabi, radishes, and oilseed rape, mustard, horseradish and cress), Fabacae sp. (for example peas, beans, peanuts), Papilionaceae sp. (for example soya bean), Solanaceae sp. (for example potatoes), Chenopodiaceae sp. (for example sugar beet, fodderbeet, swiss chard, beetroot); useful plants and ornamental plants for gardens and wooded areas; including genetically modified versions of each of these plants.

[0133] According to a particular embodiment, seeds or plant propagation materials of crop plants which may be treated, or covered, or coated, or dressed, or overspread, or overlaid, in accordance with the compositions of the disclosure are seeds or plant propagation materials from maize (Zea mays), soybean (Glycine max), cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), wheat (Triticum aestivum), oilseed rape (Brassica napus), rice (Oryza sativa), sunflower (Helianthus annuus), barley (Hordeum vulgare), peas (Pisum sativum), beans (Phaseolus sp., Vicia sp., Vigna sp.).

[0134] Plants and plant cultivars, the seeds of which may be treated, or covered, or coated, or dressed, or overspread, or overlaid, according to the disclosure include plants and plant cultivars which are resistant against one or more biotic stresses, i.e. said plants show a better defense against animal and microbial pests, such as against nematodes, insects, mites, phytopathogenic fungi, bacteria, viruses and / or viroids.

[0135] Plants and plant cultivars, the seeds of which may be treated, or covered, or coated, or dressed, or overspread, or overlaid, according to the disclosure include those plants which are resistant to one or more abiotic stresses. Abiotic stress conditions may include, for example, drought, cold temperature exposure, heat exposure, osmotic stress, flooding, increased soil salinity, increased mineral exposure, ozone exposure, high light exposure, limited availability of nitrogen nutrients, limited availability of phosphorus nutrients, shade avoidance.

[0136] Plants and plant cultivars, the seeds of which may be treated, or covered, or coated, or dressed, or overspread, or overlaid, according to the disclosure include those plants characterized by enhanced yield characteristics. Increased yield in said plants may be the result of, for example, improved plant physiology, growth and development, such as water use efficiency, water retention efficiency, improved nitrogen use, enhanced carbon assimilation, improved photosynthesis, increased germination efficiency and accelerated maturation. Yield may furthermore be affected by improved plant architecture (under stress and non-stress conditions), including but not limited to, early flowering, flowering control for hybrid seed production, seedling vigor, plant size, internode number and distance, root growth, seed size, fruit size, pod size, pod or ear number, seed number per pod or ear, seed mass, enhanced seed filling, reduced seed dispersal, reduced pod dehiscence and lodging resistance. Further yield traits include seed composition, such as carbohydrate content and composition for example cotton or starch, protein content, oil content and composition, nutritional value, reduction in anti-nutritional compounds, improved processability and better storage stability.

[0137] Plants and plant cultivars, the seeds of which may be treated, or covered, or coated, or dressed, or overspread, or overlaid, according to the disclosure include plants and plant cultivars which are hybrid plants that already express the characteristic of heterosis or hybrid vigor which results in generally higher yield, vigor, health and resistance towards biotic and abiotic stresses.

[0138] Plants and plant cultivars (obtained by plant biotechnology methods such as genetic engineering), the seeds of which may be treated, or covered, or coated, or dressed, or overspread, or overlaid, according to the disclosure include plants and plant cultivars which are herbicide-tolerant plants, i.e. plants made tolerant to one or more given herbicides. Such plants can be obtained either by genetic transformation, or by selection of plants containing a mutation imparting such herbicide tolerance.

[0139] Plants and plant cultivars (obtained by plant biotechnology methods such as genetic engineering), the seeds of which may be treated, or covered, or coated, or dressed, or overspread, or overlaid, according to the disclosure include plants and plant cultivars which are insect-resistant transgenic plants, i.e. plants made resistant to attack by certain target insects. Such plants can be obtained by genetic transformation, or by selection of plants containing a mutation imparting such insect resistance.

[0140] Plants and plant cultivars (obtained by plant biotechnology methods such as genetic engineering), the seeds of which may be treated, or covered, or coated, or dressed, or overspread, or overlaid, according to the disclosure include plants and plant cultivars which are disease-resistant transgenic plants, i.e. plants made resistant to attack by certain target insects. Such plants can be obtained by genetic transformation, or by selection of plants containing a mutation imparting such insect resistance.

[0141] Plants and plant cultivars (obtained by plant biotechnology methods such as genetic engineering), the seeds of which may be treated, or covered, or coated, or dressed, or overspread, or overlaid, according to the disclosure include plants and plant cultivars which are tolerant to abiotic stresses. Such plants can be obtained by genetic transformation, or by selection of plants containing a mutation imparting such stress resistance.

[0142] Plants and plant cultivars (obtained by plant biotechnology methods such as genetic engineering), the seeds of which may be treated, or covered, or coated, or dressed, or overspread, or overlaid, according to the disclosure include plants and plant cultivars which showaltered quantity, quality and / or storage-stability of the harvested product and / or altered properties of specific ingredients of the harvested product.

[0143] Plants and plant cultivars (obtained by plant biotechnology methods such as genetic engineering), the seeds of which may be treated, or covered, or coated, or dressed, or overspread, or overlaid, according to the disclosure include plants and plant cultivars, such as cotton plants, with altered fiber characteristics. Such plants can be obtained by genetic transformation, or by selection of plants contain a mutation imparting such altered fiber characteristics.

[0144] Plants and plant cultivars (obtained by plant biotechnology methods such as genetic engineering), the seeds of which may be treated, or covered, or coated, or dressed, or overspread, or overlaid, according to the disclosure include plants and plant cultivars, such as oilseed rape or related Brassica plants, with altered oil profile characteristics. Such plants can be obtained by genetic transformation, or by selection of plants contain a mutation imparting such altered oil profile characteristics.

[0145] Plants and plant cultivars (obtained by plant biotechnology methods such as genetic engineering), the seeds of which may be treated, or covered, or coated, or dressed, or overspread, or overlaid, according to the disclosure include plants and plant cultivars, such as oilseed rape or related Brassica plants, with altered seed shattering characteristics. Such plants can be obtained by genetic transformation, or by selection of plants contain a mutation imparting such altered seed shattering characteristics and include plants such as oilseed rape plants with delayed or reduced seed shattering.

[0146] Plants and plant cultivars (obtained by plant biotechnology methods such as genetic engineering), the seeds of which may be treated, or covered, or coated, or dressed, or overspread, or overlaid, according to the disclosure include plants and plant cultivars, such as Tobacco plants, with altered post-translational protein modification patterns.

[0147] Particularly, the disclosure is directed to a viable plant propagation material covered, with a composition as defined above. In one embodiment, said viable plant propagation material is a seed. In a different embodiment, said viable plant propagation material is a fruit. In another embodiment, said viable plant propagation material is a seed or fruit maturing on the plant producing it.Application to Seeds

[0148] In a further aspect, the disclosure relates to a method for protecting plant propagation material, particularly seeds, from free-living birds, wherein such plant propagation material, particularly seeds, is treated, or covered, or coated, or dressed, or overspread, or overlaid, with a composition according to the disclosure that is repellent or unpalatable to birds.

[0149] In a particular embodiment, the method for protecting plant propagation material from birds further comprises the following steps: a) applying a first inorganic material selected from porous silicas, porous calcium carbonates, porous celluloses, inorganic materials made of spherical or rounded particles, inorganic materials made of planar-shaped particles, and a combination of inorganic materials containing spherical or rounded particles together with inorganic materials containing planar-shaped particles, b) applying a second inorganic material selected from inorganic materials containing spherical or rounded particles, inorganic materials containing planar-shaped particles, and a combination of inorganic materials containing spherical or rounded particles together with inorganic materials containing planar-shaped particles.

[0150] Preferably, the plant propagation material is further coated with a liquid binder before application of the second inorganic material. As a consequence, the two inorganic materials are separated by a liquid binder.

[0151] For example, in one aspect, the disclosure comprises administering a composition comprising an extract of fruits of the black pepper plant Piper nigrum to seeds, wherein the application rate of the composition is at least about one (1) gram per unit of seeds or at least about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 45, 50, 75, 90, 100, 110, or 120 grams per unit of seeds. A “unit of seeds” according to the present disclosure refers to a quantity of seeds corresponding to 50 000 seeds. The method may comprise administering the composition at an application rate of from about 1 to about 120, from about 10 to about 110, or from about 50 to about 110 grams per unit of seeds.

[0152] The application rate may depend on the type of seeds to be treated, and a person skilled in the art would know how to adapt the dose depending on the type of seeds. As guidance, it is proposed that, (i) for corn seeds, the application rate is about 1 to about 1120 gram per unit of seeds, about 10 to about 110 gram per unit of seeds, or about 50 to 110 gram per unit of seeds; (ii) for wheat seeds, the application rate is about 1 - to about 20 gram per unit of seeds, about 2 to about 19 gram per unit of seeds, or about 5 to 18 gram per unit of seeds;(iii) for sunflower seeds, the application rate is about 1 to about 50 gram per unit of seeds, about 2 to about 48 gram per unit of seeds, or about 5 to 45 gram per unit of seeds. Depending on the type of seeds, the person skilled in the art would also know how to convert these proposed application rates to a corresponding application rate per weight of seeds (e.g. kg) and / or to a corresponding application rate per sowing surface (e.g. hectare).

[0153] The seed treatment methods described herein can be used in connection with any species of plant and / or the seeds thereof. The methods are used in connection with seeds that are agronomically important. The seed may be a transgenic seed from which a transgenic plant can grow and incorporates a transgenic event that confers, for example, tolerance to a particular herbicide or combination of herbicides, increased disease resistance, enhanced tolerance to insects, drought, stress and / or enhanced yield. The seed may comprise a breeding trait, including for example, in one embodiment a disease tolerant breeding trait. In another embodiment, the seed includes at least one transgenic and breeding trait.

[0154] The treatment method may comprise applying the composition to a seed, or other plant propagation material, prior to sowing the seed, so that the sowing operation is simplified. In this manner, seeds, or other plant propagation materials, can be treated, or covered, or coated, or dressed, or overspread, or overlaid, for example, at a central location and then distributed for planting. This may permit a person who plants the seeds to avoid the complexity and effort associated with handling and applying the seed treatment compositions, and to merely plant the treated, or covered, or coated, or dressed, or overspread, or overlaid, seeds in a manner that is conventional for regular untreated seeds.

[0155] The composition can be applied to seeds, or other plant propagation material, by any standard seed treatment methodology, including but not limited to mixing in a container (e.g., a bottle or bag), mechanical application, tumbling, spraying, immersion, and solid matrix priming. Seed coating methods and apparatus fortheir application are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,918,413, 5,891,246, 5,554,445, 5,389,399, 5,107,787, 5,080,925, 4,759,945 and 4,465,017, among others. Any conventional active or inert material can be used for contacting seeds with the seed treatment composition, such as conventional seed coating materials including but not limited to water-based seed coating materials.

[0156] For example, the composition can be covered, or coated, or dressed, or overspread, or overlaid, onto a seed by use of solid matrix priming. For example, a quantity of the composition be mixed with a solid matrix material and then the seed can be placed into contact with the solid matrix material for a period to allow the composition to be covered, orcoated, or dressed, or overspread, or overlaid, to the seed. The seed can then optionally be separated from the solid matrix material and stored or used, or the mixture of solid matrix material plus seed can be stored or planted directly. Non-limiting examples of solid matrix materials which are useful include polyacrylamide, starch, clay, silica, alumina, soil, sand, polyurea, polyacrylate, rosin or fat / wax or lipid matrix, or any other material capable of absorbing or adsorbing the composition for a time and releasing the fungi cide(s) of the composition into or onto the seed. It is useful to make sure that the composition and the solid matrix material are compatible with each other. For example, the solid matrix material should be chosen so that it can release the composition at a reasonable rate, for example over a period of minutes, hours, days, or weeks.

[0157] Imbibition is another method of treating seed with the composition. For example, a plant seed can be directly immersed for a period of time in the seed treatment composition. During the period that the seed is immersed, the seed takes up, or imbibes, a portion of the seed treatment composition. Optionally, the mixture of plant seed and the composition can be agitated, for example by shaking, rolling, tumbling, or other means. After imbibition, the seed can be separated from the composition and optionally dried, for example by patting or air drying.

[0158] The composition may be applied to the seeds using conventional film techniques and machines, such as fluidized bed techniques, the roller mill method, rotostatic seed treaters, and drum coaters. Other methods, such as spouted beds may also be useful. The seeds may be pre-sized before coating. After or simultaneously to coating, the seeds are optionally dried and then optionally transferred to a sizing machine for sizing. Such procedures are generally known in the art.

[0159] If the composition is applied to the seed in the form of a coating, the seeds can be coated using a variety of methods known in the art. For example, the coating process can comprise spraying the composition onto the seed while agitating the seed in an appropriate piece of equipment such as a tumbler or a pan granulator.

[0160] When coating seed on a large scale (for example a commercial scale), the seed coating may be applied using a continuous process. Typically, seed is introduced into the treatment equipment (such as a tumbler, a mixer, or a pan granulator) either by weight or by flow rate. The amount of composition that is introduced into the treatment equipment can vary depending on the seed weight to be coated, surface area of the seed, the concentration of active ingredients in the composition, the desired concentration on the finished seed, and the like. Thecomposition can be applied to the seed by a variety of means, for example by a spray nozzle, a revolving disc or spinning disc. The amount of liquid may be determined by the assay of the composition and the required rate of active ingredient necessary for efficacy. As the seed falls into the treatment equipment, the seed can be treated (for example by misting or spraying with the seed treatment composition) and passed through the treater under continual movement / tumbling where it can be coated evenly and dried before storage or use.

[0161] Alternatively, the seed coating may be applied using a batch process. For example, a known weight of seeds can be introduced into the treatment equipment (such as a tumbler, a mixer, or a pan granulator). A known volume of composition can be introduced into the treatment equipment at a rate that allows the composition to be applied evenly over the seeds. During the application, the seed can be mixed, for example by spinning or tumbling. The seed can optionally be dried or partially dried during the tumbling operation. After complete coating, the treated sample can be removed to an area for further drying or additional processing, use, or storage.

[0162] In a further alternative embodiment, the seed coating may be applied using a semi-batch process that incorporates features from each of the batch process and continuous process embodiments set forth above.

[0163] Seeds can be coated in laboratory size commercial treatment equipment such as a tumbler, a mixer, or a pan granulator by introducing a known weight of seeds in the treater, adding the desired amount of composition, tumbling or spinning the seed and placing it on a tray to thoroughly dry.

[0164] Seeds can also be coated by placing the known amount of seed into a bottleneck or receptacle with a lid. While tumbling, the desired amount of composition can be added to the receptacle. The seed is tumbled until it is coated with the composition. After coating, the seed can optionally be dried, for example on a tray.

[0165] The treated seeds may also be enveloped with a film overcoating to protect the bird repellent coating. Such overcoatings are known in the art and may be applied using conventional fluidized bed and drum seed coating techniques. The overcoatings may be applied to seeds that have been treated with any of the seed treatment techniques described above, including but not limited to solid matrix priming, imbibition, coating, and spraying, or by any other seed treatment technique known in the art.Application to Plants and / or Soil

[0166] Another aspect of the disclosure is generally related to protecting a plant propagation material and / or a seed against damage by birds. For example, in one aspect, a composition according to the disclosure is supplied to a plant propagation material and / or a seed exogenously. Typically, the composition is applied to the plant propagation material, the seed, and / or the surrounding soil where they are sown through sprays, drips, and / or other forms of liquid application.

[0167] In one aspect, the composition according to the disclosure is directly applied to soil surrounding a seed or other plant propagation material, to a plantlet or to a ripening plant producing seeds.

[0168] The application may be performed using any method or apparatus known in the art, including but not limited to hand sprayer, mechanical sprinkler, or irrigation, including drip irrigation.

[0169] For example, the composition according to the disclosure may be applied to plants and / or soil using a drip irrigation technique. Preferably, the composition is applied directly to the base of the plants or the soil immediately adjacent to the plants. The composition may be applied through existing drip irrigation systems. This procedure is particularly preferred for use in connection with cotton, strawberries, tomatoes, potatoes, vegetables, and ornamental plants.

[0170] In another example, the treatment composition may be applied to plants and / or soil using a drench application. Preferably, a sufficient quantity of the treatment composition is applied such that it drains through the soil to the root area of the plants. The drench application technique is particularly preferred for use in connection with turf grasses and crop plants, including corn.

[0171] In some embodiments, the composition is applied to soil after planting. In other embodiments, however, the composition may be applied to soil during planting. In other embodiments, however, the composition may be applied to soil before planting. When the composition is applied directly to the soil, it may be applied using any method known in the art. For example, it may be tilled into the soil or applied in furrow.Seed, Plant, or Soil Treatment Compositions

[0172] Generally, the compositions described herein can comprise any adjuvants, excipients, or other desirable components known in the art. For example, in some embodiments, the treatment composition further comprises a surfactant.

[0173] Examples of anionic surfactants include alkyl sulfates, alcohol sulfates, alcohol ether sulfates, alpha olefin sulfonates, alkylaryl ether sulfates, aryl sulfonates, alkyl sulfonates, alkylaryl sulfonates, sulfosuccinates, mono- or diphosphate esters of polyalkoxylated alkyl alcohols or alkyl phenols, mono- or di sulfosuccinate esters of alcohols or polyalkoxylated alkanols, alcohol ether carboxylates, phenol ether carboxylates. In one embodiment, the surfactant is an alkylaryl sulfonate.

[0174] Non-limiting examples of commercially available anionic surfactants include sodium dodecylsulfate (Na-DS, SDS), MORWET D-425 (a sodium salt of alkyl naphthalene sulfonate condensate, available from Nouryon), MORWET D-500 (a sodium salt of alkyl naphthalene sulfonate condensate, available from Nouryon), MORWET IPA (a sodium salt of isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate condensate, available from Nouryon), MORWET EFW (a sodium salt of isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate condensate with anionic wetting agent, available from Nouryon), sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid (Na-DBSA) (available from Stepan), diphenyloxide disulfonate, naphthalene formaldehyde condensate, DOWFAX (available from Dow), phosphate esters of an alkyl polyethoxyethanol (STEPFAC series from Stepan) dihexyl sulfosuccinate, and dioctyl sulfosuccinate, alkyl naphthalene sulfonate condensates (Morwet series) and salts thereof, ammonium salt of polyarylphenyl ether sulfate (Soprophor 4D 384) Polyaryl ether phosphate (Soprophor 3D 33 from Solvay), Phosphate esters (Tergitol QS 44 from Dow).

[0175] Examples of non-ionic surfactants include sorbitan esters, ethoxylated sorbitan esters, alkoxylated alkylphenols, alkoxylated alcohols, ethoxylated tritryryl phenols, diblock and triblock copolymer ethers, alkyl polyglucosides, primary and secondary alcohol ethyoxylates, branched chain secondary alcohol ethoxylates, alkyl polyglucosides, ethoxylated seed oils, ethoxylated castor oils, and lanolin derivatives. In accordance with one embodiment, the surfactant comprises an alkylether block copolymer, acrylic based graft or comb copolymers, star polymers or hyperbranched polymers.

[0176] Non-limiting examples of commercially available non-ionic surfactants include SPAN 20, SPAN 40, SPAN 80, SPAN 65, and SPAN 85 (available from Croda); TWEEN 20, TWEEN 40, TWEEN 60, TWEEN 80, and TWEEN 85 (available from Croda); IGEPAL CA- 210, IGEPAL CA-520, IGEPAL CA-720, IGEPAL CO-210, IGEPAL CO-520, IGEPAL CO-630, IGEPAL CO-720, IGEPAL CO-890, and IGEPAL DM-970 (available from Aldrich); Triton X-100 (available from Dow); BRIJ S10, BRIJ S20, BRU 30, BRU 52, BRU 56, BRU 58, BRU 72, BRU 76, BRU 78, BRU 92V, BRU 97, and BRU 98 (available from Croda); PLURONIC L-31, PLURONIC L-35, PLURONIC L-61, PLURONIC L-81, PLURONIC L- 64, PLURONIC L-121, PLURONIC 10R5, PLURONIC 17R4, Pluronic F127, Pluronic F108, Pluronic P104, Pluronic Pl 05 and PLURONIC 31R1 (available from BASF); Atlas G-5000 and Atlas G-5002L (available from Croda); ATLOX 4912 and ATLOX 4912-SF (available from Croda); ATLOX 4913 (available from Croda), Bverde and SOLUPLUS (available from BASF), LANEXOL AWS (available from Croda), Butyl terminated EO-PO copolymers (Tergitol XD, Tergitol XJ, Tergitol XH from Dow or Toximul 8320 series from Stepan), secondary alcohol ethoxylates (Tergitol 15-S-3 to Tergitol 15-S-40 series from Dow), seed oil ethyoxylates (Ecosurf SA-4 to Ecosurf-15 series from Dow), alkyl polyglucosides (Tergitol BG-10, Tergitol CG-50, Tergitol CG-110 from Dow, Agnique PG 8105, 8107, 264, 9116 from BASF), castor oil ethoxylates (Etocas 10-40 series from Croda).

[0177] Non-limiting examples of cationic surfactants include mono alkyl quaternary amine, fatty acid amide surfactants, amidoamine, imidazoline, and polymeric cationic surfactants.

[0178] In some embodiments, the compositions according to the disclosure comprise a co-solvent in addition to water. Non-limiting examples of water-miscible co-solvents that can be used include ethyl lactate, methyl soyate / ethyl lactate co-solvent blends (e.g., STEPOSOL, available from Stepan), isopropanol, acetone, 1,2-propanediol, n-alkylpyrrolidone Genagen BP (Clariant), diethylene glycol based ethers (Dow solvents butyl carbitol, methyl carbitol, Carbitol) ethylene glycol ethers (Butyl cellosolve), dipropylene glycol ethers (Dipropylene glycol methyl ether), diethylene or dipropylene glycols, amide ester water-miscible solvents (Steposol EA from Stepan, Rhodiasolv Polarclean from Solvay, Agnique AMD 3L from BASF), dimethyl isosorbide (Atlox Solvall BDE from Croda) Other slightly soluble or water- immiscible co-solvents that can be used in this composition are a petroleum based-oil (e.g., AROMATIC series and SOLVESSO series available from Exxon Mobil), isoparaffinic fluids (e.g. ISOPAR series, available from Exxon Mobil), cycloparaffinic fluids (e.g. NAPPAR 6, available from Exxon Mobil, Cyclohexanone from Evonik), mineral spirits (e.g. VARSOL series available from Exxon Mobil). Examples of commercially available organic solvents include pentadecane, ISOPAR M, ISOPAR V, and ISOPAR L (available from Exxon Mobil), others may be mineral oils (e.g., paraffin oil), vegetable oils (soy, linseed, rice bran, vegetable,canola, com) and vegetable oil esters such as methyl soyate, ethyl-hexyl oleate, sunflower methyl ester, methyl oleate, methylated rapeseed or canola oils.

[0179] In some embodiments, the composition according to the disclosure may be formulated, mixed in a seed treater tank, combined on the seed by overcoating, or combined with one or more additional active ingredients. The additional active ingredients may comprise, for example, a pesticide or a biological agent. In some embodiments, the composition comprises in addition another pesticide, for example a nematicide, insecticide, fungicide, and / or herbicide. In some embodiments, the composition comprises also a biological agent.

[0180] Non-limiting examples of insecticides and nematicides include carbamates, diamides, macrocyclic lactones, neonicotinoids, organophosphates, phenylpyrazoles, pyrethrins, spinosyns, synthetic pyrethroids, tetronic and tetramic acids. In another embodiment, insecticides and nematicides include abamectin, aldicarb, aldoxycarb, bifenthrin, carbofuran, chlorantraniliprole, clothianidin, cyantraniliprole, cyfluthrin, cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, dinotefuran, emamectin, ethiprole, fenamiphos, fipronil, flubendiamide, fosthiazate, imidacloprid, ivermectin, lambda-cyhalothrin, milbemectin, tioxazafen, nitenpyram, oxamyl, permethrin, spinetoram, spinosad, spirodichlofen, spirotetramat, tefluthrin, tetraniliprole, thiacl oprid, thiamethoxam, tioxazafen and thiodicarb.

[0181] In one embodiment, the insecticide is selected from the group consisting of chlorantraniliprole, clothianidin, thiamethoxam, tioxazafen, imidacloprid, tetraniliprole, cyantraniliprole, fipronil, flupyradifurone, ethiprole and combinations thereof.

[0182] Non-limiting examples of useful fungicides include aromatic hydrocarbons, benzimidazoles, benzothiadi azole, carboxamides, carboxylic acid amides, morpholines, phenylamides, phosphonates, quinone outside inhibitors (e.g. strobilurins), thiazolidines, thiophanates, thiophene carboxamides, and triazoles, Non-limiting examples of fungicides include acibenzolar-S-methyl, azoxystrobin, benalaxyl, bixafen, boscalid, carbendazim, chlorothalonil, cyproconazole, dimethomorph, epoxiconazole, fludioxonil, fluopyram, flutianil, flutolanil, fluxapyroxad, fosetyl-Al, ipconazole, isopyrazam, kresoxim-methyl, mefenoxam, metalaxyl, prothiaconazole, metconazole, myclobutanil, orysastrobin, penflufen, penthiopyrad, picoxystrobin, propiconazole, pyraclostrobin, sedaxane, silthiofam, tebuconazole, thifluzamide, thiophanate, tolclofos-methyl, trifloxystrobin, and tri ti conazole.

[0183] In one embodiment, the fungicide may be selected from the group consisting of ipconazole, metalaxyl, prothiaconazole, trifloxystrobin, pyraclostrobin, fluxapyroxad, sedaxane, fluopyram, mefenoxam, penflufen, azoxystrobin and combinations thereof.

[0184] Non-limiting examples of herbicides include ACCase inhibitors, acetanilides, AHAS inhibitors, carotenoid biosynthesis inhibitors, EPSPS inhibitors, glutamine synthetase inhibitors, PPO inhibitors, PS II inhibitors, and synthetic auxins. Non-limiting examples of herbicides include acetochlor, clethodim, dicamba, flumioxazin, fomesafen, glyphosate, glufosinate, mesotrione, quizalofop, saflufenacil, sulcotrione, 2,4-D, trifloxysulfuron, and halosulfuron.

[0185] In one embodiment, the herbicide may be selected from the group consisting of acetochlor, dicamba, glyphosate and combinations thereof.

[0186] A preferred composition according to the disclosure when the seed is a corn seed is combined with a fungicide (for example Redigo® M at 15 ml / 50K kernels or Acceleron® fungicide package in the USA). It may also be combined with an insecticide (for example Force® 20 CS 50 ml / 50K kernels in EU or Poncho® in USA) and then applied to seeds during treatment. Redigo® M is a flowable concentrate for seed treatment containing 20g / L of Metalaxyl and lOOg / L of Prothioconazole, Force 20 CS comprises Tefluthrin insecticide at 200g / L in capsule form, and Poncho 600 insecticide consists of 600g / L of Chlothianidin. The Acceleron® fungicide package composition comprises Metalaxyl, Fluoxastrobin, Prothioconazole, Ethaboxam and chlothianidin insecticide.

[0187] Additional actives may also comprise substances such as, biological agents for pest control, microbial extracts, plant growth activators or plant defense agents. Non-limiting examples of biological agents include bacteria, fungi, beneficial nematodes, and viruses.

[0188] In certain embodiments, the biological agent can be a bacterium of the genus Actinomycetes, Agrobacterium, Arthrobacter, Alcaligenes, Aureobacterium, Azobacter, Bacillus, Beijerinckia, Brevibacillus, Burkholderia, Chromobacterium, Clostridium, Clavibacter, Comamonas, Corynebacterium, Curtobacterium, Enterobacter, Flavobacterium, Gluconob acter, Hydrogenophaga, Klebsiella, Methylobacterium, Paenibacillus, Pasteuria, , Photorhabdus, Phyllobacterium, Pseudomonas, Rhizobia, Serratia, Sphingobacterium, Stenotrophomonas, Variovorax, and Xenorhabdus. In particular embodiments the bacteria is selected from the group consisting of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus firmus, Bacillus, lichenformis, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus sphaericus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillusthuringiensis, Chromobacterium suttsuga, Pasteuria penetrans, Pasteuria usage, and Pseudomonas fluorescens.

[0189] In certain embodiments the biological agent can be a fungus of the genus Alternaria, Ampelomyces, Aspergillus, Aureobasidium, Beauveria, Colletotrichum, Coniothyrium, Gliocladium, Metarhizium, Muscodor, Paecilomyces, Bradyrhizobia, Trichoderma, Typhula, Ulocladium, and Verticillium. In another embodiment the fungus is Beauveria bassiana, Coniothyrium minitans, Gliocladium virens, Muscodor albus, Paecilomyces lilacinus, or Trichoderma polysporum.

[0190] In further embodiments the biological agents can be plant growth activators or plant defense agents including, but not limited to harpin, Reynoutria sachalinensis. jasmonate, lipochitooligosaccharides, salicylic acid and isoflavones. In another embodiment, the biological agent may be selected from the group consisting of Bacillus firmus.

[0191] In another embodiment the disclosure relates to a method for reducing the stickiness of seeds covered with a composition comprising an extract of a pepper plant of the genus Piper, characterized in that said composition comprises activated carbon. Preferably, the said composition also comprises at least one thickener.

[0192] In a further embodiment, the disclosure relates to a method for improving the processing of seeds covered with a composition comprising an extract of a pepper plant of the genus Piper, characterized in that said composition comprises activated carbon and optionally at least one thickener. In a preferred embodiment, the seeds are processed in a sowing device.

[0193] Having described the embodiments in detail, it will be apparent that modifications and variations of the disclosure are possible without departing from the scope of the appended claims.EXAMPLES

[0194] The following non-limiting examples are provided for further illustration.

[0195] As explained above, the composition comprising only the extract of pepper plant of the genus Piper is particularly sticky. Especially when said composition is coated on the seeds increases the stickiness of the seeds one to the other. Therefore, when the seeds are introduced into the funnel of the sowing device, they tend to flow at a slower rate through the funnel which leads to poor seed flow and plantability. Hence, to assess the effectiveness of the composition in reducing seed stickiness, the inventors conducted evaluations on the flow of seeds coated with the hereafter mentioned compositions.Example 1: Effect of Activated Carbon on the stickiness of compositions comprising Black Pepper Oleoresin (BPO)Preparation of Black Pepper OleoresinMost solvent extracts of plant material, in particular of the black pepper plant Piper nigrum, lead to a resinous composition, which is sticky. For the purpose of the present disclosure, BPO has been used as a type of resinous solvent extract of black pepper. BPO can be obtained from many commercial sources, but it can also be prepared as follows.An extract of dried fruits of the pepper plant Piper nigrum, also known as peppercorn, is prepared in a two-step extraction. The crushed peppercorns are first subjected to steam distillation, to produce an oily distillate. Then, in a second extraction step, the crushed peppercorns that have been subjected to steam distillation are then subjected to a solvent extraction, using a solvent mixture comprising ethyl acetate, acetone and hexane. After sufficient extraction time, the solvents are then evaporated to yield a semi-solid extract known as resin. An oleoresin is then formed by mixing the oily distillate with the resin so as to obtain an oleoresin containing 10-60% of piperine^ 40-50% of the oleoresin is made of volatile and non-volatile oils as well as other liquids, while the remaining 50-60% of oleoresin is made of the resinous residue. Piperine is present in the resin as crystals and also dissolved in the oils. The obtained BPO is very viscous and water insoluble.Preparation of compositions comprising BPO and Activated Carbon (AC)In order to demonstrate the effect of activated carbon on the reduction of the stickiness of BPO, two compositions have been prepared, one with activated carbon, which corresponds to a composition according to the disclosure (“BPO Composition 1” in Table 1) and secondcomposition without activated carbon which corresponds to a comparative control composition (“No AC BPO Composition 1” in Table 1).Table 1 : Proportions of the components of the composition.The experimental compositions are prepared by pre-mixing two categories of compounds, forming a premix A and a premix B, and then mixing the two premixes. Premix A is prepared by mixing the BPO extract with activated carbon and acceptable carriers as the oil phase. Ingredients are charged into a mixing-tank and mixed until homogeneity at low shear (shear rate between 3000-4000 rpm). In the same way, a premix B (water phase) is prepared by mixing the thickener (Exilva®) together with other acceptable carriers and water at high shear (shear rate between 4000-6000 rpm) until homogeneity. Finally, when the two premixes A and B are ready, premix B is charged into a mixing-tank containing Premix A and then homogenized at low shear (shear rate between 3000-4000 rpm). 4% of Propylene Glycol is then added and the composition homogenized at low shear. If needed, pH may be adjusted using sodium hydroxide or sulfuric acid to maintain a pH between 6 and 8.5.The composition according to the disclosure so obtained will be used in the present example under the denomination “BPO composition 1”.Application on seedsFor all experiments presented below, seeds of the corn variety DKC 64-34 were used.101.25 ml of the BPO composition prepared above were applied to 50 000 seeds by using a batch treater. The product Redigo® M (15 ml) was also applied to all seed modalities as fungicide treatment. Inspection of the treated seeds showed that the coatings were uniformly present all over the seed surface area. Untreated seeds stored under similar storage conditions were used at all time points as reference.Seed flow measurementIn order to measure the effect of the BPO composition of the disclosure on the stickiness of the coated seeds, a specific experimental device was developed for measuring the flow of the coated seeds through a funnel. The capacity of the coated seeds to flow through a funnel mimics the capacity of the seeds to flow through a sowing device, and is well correlated to the stickiness of the compositions coating the seeds.Before measurement, coated seeds are equilibrated at room temperature (22°C) and 50% relative humidity (RH). Untreated seeds used as reference in each experiment are also equilibrated in similar manner as coated seeds.In the present experiments, seed flow measurements have been carried out at 6 days and 27 days, or at 24 hrs and 10 days.A FlowTek® seed flow meter (Center Europe®) with a funnel of a capacity of 1 ,5L is used for all these experiments, together with an analytical balance placed under the flow funnel. The values described herein are obtained by dropping 1 Kg of seed through a funnel of 102 mm diameter at the top and 47.8mm at the discharge end, and the seed flow is the measure of the weight of seeds that pass through the funnel every 0,4 seconds.In order to measure the flow of seeds coated with each composition, the following steps are performed:Step 1 : The coated seeds are loaded in the funnel until the funnel is full.Step 2: The funnel gate is opened for the desired time (0,4 seconds).Step 3: Once the time has elapsed, the gate closes, and the weight of the seeds dropped is recorded.Step 4: Steps 2 and 3 are repeated until the funnel is empty. Usually, for sticky seeds, the funnel empties out after 6-7 drops and 6-7 weights are collected. For unsticky seeds (e.g. untreated), the entire funnel can empty out in 3-4 drops and 3-4 weights are collected.Step 5: The last drop weight is reviewed and if it is significantly less than the previous drops, it is deleted (this indicates the there was only a small amount of seed left in the funnel from the previous drop).The seed flow (kg / sec) is calculated as well as an average of the several drops and a standard deviation.Review of the average drop weights and the standard deviation correlates with the level of stickiness of the seeds.The measurements are compiled in Tables 2 and 3 below. The seed flow is calculated as a percentage of untreated seed (i.e., compared to seeds that are not coated with the tested compositions).The first experiment was carried out with seed flow measured after 6 and 27 days (Table 2).A second experiment was also carried out with seed flow measured after 24 hours and 10 days (Table 3).Table 2: Effect of activated carbon on seed flow of seeds treated with BPO after 6 and 27 daysTable 3: Effect of activated carbon on seed flow of seeds treated with BPO after 24 hours and 10 daysAs shown in Tables 2 and 3, the BPO composition according to the disclosure (i.e. with activated carbon) improves the flow of corn seeds compared to the composition comprising BPO without activated carbon, at all measured timepoints after treatment. This result indicates that activated carbon reduces the stickiness of BPO, when coated onto seeds.Example 2: Effect of activated carbon and thickeners (1% Exilva® and 0.8% Aerosil®200) on the stickiness of compositions comprising Black Pepper OleoresinThe BPO composition according to the disclosure (with 4% of activated carbon), hereafter referred to as “BPO composition 2” and a comparative composition (without activated carbon), hereafter referred to as “No AC BPO composition 2” are prepared according to the same procedure as described in Example 1, except that quantity of the thickener Exilva® is increased to 1% (instead of 0.382 in the compositions of Example 1).The compositions are applied on seeds as detailed in Example 1, and the seed flow is measured in the same manner as in Example 1.Table 4: Effect of activated carbon on seed flowAs presented in Table 4, the BPO composition 2 according to the disclosure with activated carbon shows a better seed flow after 4 and 24 days than the BPO composition without activated carbon.Moreover, by comparing the results presented in Tables 2, 3 of Example 1 and in this Table 4, it is observed that, despite the different ratios of thickeners (0.382% of Exilva® and 0.5% of Aerosil ® 200 in Example 1, and 1% of Exilva® and 0.8% of Aerosil ® 200 in Example 2), the seed flow measured for these formulations is similar. The increase of thickeners therefore does not have a meaningful impact of the positive effect on stickiness of the BPO composition already brought by the activated carbon.Example 3: Effect of various types of activated carbon on seed flowCompositions according to the disclosure (with 4% of activated carbon, 0.382% of Exilva® and 0.5% of amorphous silica) with different types of activated carbon are prepared in the same way as the procedure described in Example 1. The different types of activated carbons tested vary in the main parameters that characterize activated carbons, i.e. pore size, granulometry, source, type of activation (chemical, steam...),...Compositions are applied on seeds as detailed in Example 1, and seed flow is measured as detailed in the same manner as in Example 1. All activated carbons tested in this example are commercially available from various suppliers.Seed flow measurements are performed at 24h and 10 days after treatment.Table 5: Effect of different types of activated carbonAs shown in Table 5, the tested activated carbons are all acceptable when measuring seed flow. After 10 days, the measured seed flow is at least above 39% whereas, as seen in Example 1 above, seed flow of the BPO composition without activated carbon is less than 33%. Thus, with all tested activated carbons, whatever their structure, seed flow is improved compared to a BPO composition having no added activated carbon.Example 4: Effect of various activated carbons at different dosages on seed flowBPO compositions according to the disclosure (with activated carbon, 0.382% of Exilva® and 0.5% of amorphous silica) with various activated carbons, listed in Table 6 below, at different dosages (1.5% to 12%) are prepared in the same way as the procedure described in Example 1.Compositions are applied on seeds as detailed in Example 1, and seed flow is measured as in Example 1.Table 6: Effect of various activated carbons at different dosagesThe seed flow increases almost linearly with the percentage of AC in the BPO composition for all types of activated carbons.Example 5: Effect of the thickener on BPO composition (4% of activated carbon)It is well-known from the prior art that viscosity of oil-in-water emulsions needs to be controlled to avoid sedimentation during storage. High viscosity prevents sedimentation.Thickeners are usually added to improve the stability of formulations, like for example to control viscosity.Compositions with 4% activated carbon and various thickeners at various ratios, hereinafter referred to as “BPO Compositions 3 to 10”, and comparative compositions with 4% activated carbon but without any thickeners, hereinafter referred to as “BPO Composition w / o thickener”, are prepared in the same way as the procedure described in Example 1.Compositions are applied on seeds as detailed above, in Example 1.Measurement of viscosity: In order to compare the viscosities of the different compositions, viscosity is measured by rotational method with a rheometer from TA Instruments® using cup- and-bob geometry. Viscosity is measured at three shear rates. High shear rate (100 s'1) represents spraying conditions while the lowest one (7.5 s'1) represents storage conditions. Moderate shear is represented by middle shear rate (20 s'1). Viscosities of the BPO compositions given in Table 7 below were measured after 10 days.Table 7: Effect of thickener on seed flow and viscosityEx = Exilva® thickener, Sil = amorphous silica Aerosil® 200, Xan = Xanthan gumAs seen in Table 7, the addition of at least one thickener (microfibrillated cellulose, amorphous silica or xanthan gum) tends to slightly lower seed flow compared to the formulation comprising no thickener (Table 7). However, when measuring viscosity, it is observed that the addition of thickeners increases viscosity.Thus, despite the fact that seed flow is slightly lower with thickener than without, the viscosity is well higher, hence limiting the sedimentation phenomenon.The combination of Exilva® and silica of BPO Composition 3 increases seed flow significantly, but only slightly increases viscosity, compared to BPO composition 4 which does not comprise silica, which would not sufficiently improve stability of the formulation. The seed flow is maximized with the combination Xantham gum / Exilva® of BPO composition 9, while viscosity is moderate, corresponding to an appropriate balance of improved seed flow and stability. With increasing xanthan gum content, the viscosity of the formulation increases but the seed flow decreases.As seen from Table 7, a combination of Exilva® and amorphous silica or a combination Xanthan gum, Exilva® and silica according to BPO composition 9 should be considered as the preferred thickeners or thickeners combinations. Thanks to the addition of said thickeners, theviscosity is high enough to prevent significant sedimentation and low enough to avoid the loss the improved seed flow due to activated carbon.Example 6: Effect of the inorganic materials on seed flow (with Nuchar® SA 20 as activated carbon)In order to show the additional effect of inorganic materials on seed flow, further to the effect of activated carbon, two sets of seeds have been prepared, one prepared according to Example 1 and a second one wherein inorganic materials and a liquid binder have been applied to seeds after application of Redigo® M in batch treater.Seeds have been treated according to the following steps:In a first step, 101.25 ml of the composition prepared in Example 1, comprising activated carbon, together with 15ml of Redigo® M were applied to 50000 seeds using a batch treater.In a second step, the seeds are then coated with Sipernat® 320 (15g / 50000 seeds) as first inorganic material.A liquid binder is then added in order to enable the proper coating of a second inorganic material. In the present example, the seeds are coated with Peridiam® Extra 317 (300 ml / 100 Kg seeds) as liquid binder.Finally, the seeds are coated with Agipowder® 772 (150g / 100 Kg seeds) as second inorganic material.A final mixing of the seeds in the batch treater is realized when all components are added, before discharge.Inspection of the treated seeds showed that the coatings were uniformly present all over the seed surface area.Table 8: Effect of the inorganic materials on seed flow after 6 and 27 daysTable 9: Effect of the inorganic materials on seed flow after 24 hours and 10 daysTables 8 and 9 show that after 24 hours, 6 days, 10 days and 27 days, seeds coated with a BPO composition and treated with a sequential application of two inorganic materials systematically show an improved seed flow compared to seeds which are only coated with the BPO composition. The addition of inorganic materials therefore further improves the seed flow of seeds already coated with a BPO composition comprising activated carbon.Example 7: Effect of the inorganic materials on seed flow (with various activated carbon)Compositions according to the disclosure (with 4% of activated carbon, 0.382% of Exilva®and 0.5% of amorphous silica) with different activated carbon, listed in Table 10, are prepared in the same way as the procedure described in Example 1.As detailed in Example 6, two sets of seeds have been prepared, one according to Example 1 and a second one wherein inorganic materials and liquid binder have been applied to seeds after application of Redigo® M in batch treater.Seeds have been treated by using the steps detailed in Example 6, and seed flow is measured as described in Example 1.Table 10: Effect of the inorganic materials on seed flowIM = Inorganic materialsWith inorganic materials, the seed flow is systematically improved. Moreover, the highest seed flow after 10 days is observed for Nuchar® SA20, Nuchar® SA 1500, Nuchar® RGC® 36-R-19, WPC®, Ruwa® PL-1500, BG-HHM® and Pulsorb® HF 250A.Example 8: Field trial measuring the effect on seed consumption by free-living birdsThe trial was conducted with maize seeds in Italy and Romania.The purpose of the field trial was to observe whether the use of the composition according to the disclosure has any effect on the bird repellency effect of the black pepper oleoresin extract.The trial was designed to allow a choice experiment with four options (one option treated with a BPO composition according to the disclosure, i.e. comprising activated carbon, one option treated with a BPO composition without activated carbon; one treated with Ziram as reference, and one untreated) offered to wild birds. The field trial sites were selected with known important avian pressure.The BPO compositions (with activated carbon and without activated carbon) used for this trial were the ones used in the above-mentioned example 1 and were prepared accordingly.Each trial follows the same experimental design with unique plots of 600 m2 by treatment, and4 different treatments tested in a randomized design. The treatments were BPO composition at dose rate of 101.25 ml / 50000 seeds with activated carbon at dose rate of 4%, BPO composition at dose rate of 101,25 ml / 50000 seeds without activated carbon, Standard treatment (Ziram - Korit®) at commercial dose rate of 6mL / kg seeds and untreated control (UTC). All seeds were also treated with Redigo® M as fungicide treatment.Damages were measured by counting the number of plants present, damaged and missing over5 random distances of 20 linear meters in each trial plot. Measurements were done at 4 different stages during the emergence phase of the corn plants: at development stages BBCH 10-11, BBCH 12-13, BBCH 14 and BBCH 15-16. Results are expressed as the average percentage of missing and damaged plants at the last assessment at BBCH 16, corrected according to the Abbott formula for the tested treatments. Results are expressed in table 13.Table 11 : Effect of BPO compositions with and without activated carbon on the bird repellent effect of BPOUTC = untreated control, ST = Standard Ziram, BPO = BPO composition, with or without activated carbonThe results confirm that all treated seeds were better protected against bird damages than untreated controls. In addition, the data shows that the composition according to the disclosure, i.e. with at least activated carbon, did not affect the bird repellent effect of the black pepper oleoresin.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A composition comprising (1) an extract of a pepper plant of the genus Piper and (2) activated carbon.

2. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the extract of a pepper plant of the genus Piper comprises a solvent-extracted resin.

3. The composition according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the extract of a pepper plant of the genus Piper is an oleoresin.

4. The composition according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the composition comprises between 1 and 15% (w / w) of activated carbon.

5. The composition according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the activated carbon is obtained from organic source materials.

6. The composition according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the composition is in the form of an oil-in-water emulsion.

7. The composition according to any of claims 1 to 6, further comprising at least one thickener.

8. The composition according to claim 7, wherein said at least one thickener is selected from cellulose-based thickeners, nonionic polysaccharide gums, anionic polysaccharides, native or modified starches, quillaja extract, yucca extract, synthetic polymeric thickeners, organic associative thickeners, amorphous silica, clay minerals, or combinations thereof.

9. The composition according to claim 8, wherein said cellulose-based thickener is microfibrillated cellulose.

10. A method for obtaining a composition for protecting plant propagation material from free-living birds comprising the steps of preparing an extract of a pepper plant of the genus Piper and mixing said extract with activated carbon until homogenization.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the composition comprising the extract of pepper plant and the activated carbon is further mixed with at least one thickener, which is preferably selected from cellulose-based thickeners, nonionic polysaccharide gums, anionic polysaccharides, native or modified starches, quillaja extract, yucca extract, synthetic polymeric thickeners, organic associative thickeners, amorphous silica, clay minerals, or combinations thereof.

12. A viable plant propagation material covered with the composition according to any of the claims 1 to 9.

13. The viable plant propagation material according to claim 12, wherein said viable plant propagation material is a seed.

14. The viable plant propagation material according to claim 12, wherein said viable plant propagation material is a fruit.

15. The viable plant propagation material according to claim 14, wherein said viable plant propagation material is a seed or fruit maturing on the plant producing it.

16. The viable plant propagation material according to any of claims 12 to 15 wherein said viable plant propagation material is further covered with at least two inorganic materials, the first inorganic material is selected from porous absorbing silicas, porous calcium carbonates, porous celluloses, inorganic materials made of spherical or rounded particles, inorganic materials made of planar-shaped particles, and a combination of inorganic materials containing spherical or rounded particles together with inorganic materials containing planar-shaped particles, and the second inorganic material is selected from inorganic materials containing spherical or rounded particles, inorganic materials containing planar-shaped particles, and a combination of inorganic materials containing spherical or rounded particles together with inorganic materials containing planar-shaped particles.

17. A method for protecting a plant propagation material from free-living birds, comprising the step of treating said viable plant propagation material with a composition as described in anyone of claims 1 to 9.

18. A method according to claim 17, further comprising the following steps of: a) applying a first inorganic material selected from porous silicas, porous calcium carbonates, porous celluloses, inorganic materials made of spherical or rounded particles, inorganic materials made of planar-shaped particles, and a combination of inorganic materials containing spherical or rounded particles together with inorganic materials containing planar-shaped particles, b) applying a second inorganic material selected from inorganic materials containing spherical or rounded particles, inorganic materials containing planar-shaped particles, and a combination of inorganic materials containing spherical or rounded particles together with inorganic materials containing planar-shaped particles, the first and second inorganic materials being optionally separated by a liquid binder.

19. A container containing the viable plant propagation material according to any of claims 14 to 16.

20. Method for reducing the stickiness of seeds covered with a composition comprising an extract of a pepper plant of the genus Piper, characterized in that said composition comprises activated carbon.

21. Method for improving the processing of seeds covered with a composition comprising an extract of a pepper plant of the genus Piper, characterized in that said composition comprises activated carbon.